Monday, April 18, 2016

Well, this is a musical recording I didn't work on. In fact, it wasn't even recorded in our studio--that's part of the interesting story behind this newest release from the Daughters of St Paul--but I have been eager to see it released ever since I first heard it (over a year ago: this has required a lot of patience!). Thankfully, the day has come, and in plenty of time for the Pentecost Novena, too. Introducing: a sung Chaplet to the Holy Spirit, written by our own Sister Julia Mary and sung by, yes, the Daughters of St Paul, but not the usual choir members--this recording was recorded "at home" and sung by the sisters in the community of New Orleans (admittedly, star soprano Sister Julia was still stationed there, along with the equally gifted Sister Tracey)!

I am sure this almost-20 minutes of prayer will transform your commute with its repeated and beautiful invocations for each of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Who can't benefit from greater wisdom, knowledge, understanding, fortitude?)

Now for the story behind this lovely and prayerful recording:

During her own chapel time, Sister Julia began adapting the words of a traditional and well-known prayer (Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful...) to ask for each of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Piety, Fortitude, Fear of the Lord. For years she would pray these invocations chaplet style when there was a particularly urgent intention. I remember in 2013 when I was going to attend our congregation's General Chapter (the highest governing body in the congregation), she promised to pray the Holy Spirit Chaplet for our work.

Soprano section: Sisters Tracey and Julia.

Sister Julia makes stunning rosaries (she's a regular at bead shows!), so it wasn't long before she crafted a set of beads to go along with the prayers. After some time, she created a leaflet with the prayers so she could share the chaplet with our New Orleans Pauline bookstore customers. One of the "regulars" there is New Orleans musician Jamie Diliberto. Sister Julia showed him the chaplet beads and gave him a leaflet. The very next day, he came to the bookstore. Feeling profoundly inspired, maybe even "pushed," he had set the prayer to music overnight. The sisters of the community got together, and under Diliberto's guidance recorded the entire prayer, adding harmonies to each repeated petition.

The result is a hauntingly beautiful contemplative prayer that you can share, too! (You can thank me later.)

Oh, since I am going to Rome next week to do some very intensive work for my congregation (two weeks of simultaneous translation for a seminar and two days of meetings--all in Italian), how about you pray the Holy Spirit chaplet for me???

Nunblogger

Catholic sister (nun) of the Daughters of St. Paul, an international community founded in 1915 for evangelization in the world of communication. Singer, writer and speaker for Pauline Books & Media (US) currently working on digital projects for my community and its publishing ministry.